The north eastern border of Rhodesia – a vast and
rugged area extending from below Kariba Dam across to the upper reaches
of the eastern highlands of the Inyanga mountains, and dipping south far
enough to include the capitol city of Salisbury and its surrounding
district. Within this area lay some of the richest farm lands of the
country, as well as a vast number of Tribal Trust Lands and African
Purchase Areas.

It was into this region in the late 60s that the leaders of the
Patriotic Front began their ‘chimurenga’ or ‘war of liberation’ in
earnest. Their mission was simple: to win over the hearts
and minds of the local population and build a platform from which to
expand their military offensives and ultimately bring
about political change. It was traditionally the duty of the ‘first force’
of Rhodesia, the British South Africa Police (in conjunction with the
Department of Internal Affairs) to administer and maintain law and order
across these rural areas.

The Security Forces had no idea of the vast extent
to which their enemy was established and living within the rural
communities right under their noses. The depth and effectiveness of the
terrorist infiltration soon had a marked effect on the
supply of information to the police authorities. The information was simply not coming to hand as it had in the past.
Despite being poorly trained and ill equipped, the sometimes ruthless
methods of the ‘freedom fighters’ were beginning to have the desired
effect on the local population.